After more than 16 consecutive hours of bargaining on the 113th day of the lockout, the NHL and NHLPA reached a tentative agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement around 5 a.m. Sunday.

“We have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said during a news conference, standing next to NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr.

“We’ve got to dot a lot of I’s and cross a lot of T’s,” Bettman said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but the basic framework of the deal has been agreed upon.”

The deal still requires ratification from the players and the NHL’s Board of Governors before it becomes official, but the league is expected to play a 50- or 48-game season that starts no later than Jan. 19.

I'm especially curious to see how well fans turn out to games at this point. Though I'm thrilled the bullshit is over, I've certainly feeling less warm and fuzzy about spending money to go and watch games this year. I'm pretty content going to my little CHL games for $10 a pop.